People often ask me if I always wanted to be a law professor, or if I always knew I wanted to be a lawyer. The answer to both questions is no. My entire youth focused on technology. I went to Staten Island Technical High School, a leading engineering high school. For college, I received a degree in Information, Sciences & Technology at Penn State. I did not take a single constitutional law or political science class in my undergraduate education. (I took one class on business law, but that doesn't really count.)
After graduation, I would begin working at the Department of Defense in Arlington on network security. During the summer between my Junior and Senior year, I decided to apply law school to focus on Intellectual Property. It was not a well thought-out decision. I had no lawyers in my immediate family and I knew nothing about IP. But law schools published these shiny pamphlets promising salaries of $160,000, so I thought it could work well.
I studied for the LSAT for a few weeks. I took two or three sample tests, and did well enough. I took the actual LSAT in October of my senior year and did not plan to take it again. I then applied early decision to George Mason Law School as an evening student. My plan was to work during the day at my office in Arlington, and go to class at night. Mason had a well-regarded IP program. I was aware of the conservative and libertarian reputation (Professor Walter Williams would often guest host on the Rush Limbaugh show), but that is not why I applied there. I did not apply anywhere else. I discussed this background in an article, From Being One L to Teaching One L.
